Bowling shoes with sighting line in tip

ABSTRACT

Bowling shoes with a built-in sighting line in the tip of the shoe extending longitudinally centrally of the shoe. The bowler sights the line on the shoe with a guide and/or a target on the lane to assist in delivering the bowling ball in the desired direction.

United States Patent Hibbard et al.

[ Feb. 15, 1972 [54] BOWLING SHOES WITH SIGHTING LINE IN TIP [72] Inventors: William M. Hibbard, Waupun; Douglas L.

Reeder, Jr., Mequon, both of Wis.

[73] Assignee: Wisconsin Shoe Company, Milwaukee,

Wis.

[22] Filed: June 15, 1970 [2]] Appl. No.: 46,124

52] us. Cl ..36/2.5 T [51 1 1m. Cl. ..A43b 00/00 [58] Field of Search ..36/2.5 R, 2.5 AH, 2.5 T, 57

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS V Reglf 2/1 874 Shorey ..36/57 2,237,181 4/l94l Hosker 36/57 X 2,503,586 4/1950 Miller 3,074,184 l/l963 Litak ..36/2.5 T

Primary Examiner-Patrick D. Lawson Attorney-John W. Michael, Gerrit D. Foster, Bayard H. Michael, Paul R. Puemer, Joseph A. Gemignani, Andrew 0. Riteris, Spencer B. Michael and Glen A. Base [5 7] ABSTRACT Bowling shoes with a built-in sighting line in the tip of the shoe extending longitudinally centrally of the shoe. The bowler sights the line on the shoe with a guide and/or a target on the lane to assist in delivering the bowling ball in the desired direction.

4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures BOWLING SHOES WITH SIGHTING LINE IN TIP BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION U.S. Pat. No. 3,228,123 shows an attachment which is glued to the outsole of a bowling shoe to aid the bowler in correct alignment each time the bowler is ready to make a delivery. This attachment extends laterally from the ball joint side of the left shoe (right shoe for left-handers). It has a straightedge which the bowler aligns with a crevice between the floorboards of the approach. The patent directs the bowler how to scribe a line on the attachment and cut it so that it conforms to the bowlers particular bowling stance. This attachment is clumsy and often causes the bowls to trip and stumble. It cannot be readily used to sight a guide or target in the lane beyond the foul line.

US. Pat. No. 2,503,586 shows a golfing shoe with crossed lines. The longitudinaLly extending line is placed in alignment with the center of the golf ball. This causes the transversely extending line to show the intended direction of the ball. These lines may be formed by suitable stitching or be colored contrasts on the upper surface of the shoe. Both lines are required to align the players body and address the ball in the same manner each time the player putts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The essence of this invention is the permanent application to the tip of a bowling shoe of a sight line extending longitudinally of the shoe on the centerline of the tip. Such sight line has a contrasting color to the color of the tip and is stitched to the edges of a slit in the material of the tip. This sight line was used in connection with the guides and targets on a lane aids the bowler in delivering the bowling ball in the desired direction on the desired lateral position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the left foot bowling shoe embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken on the line 2- 2 of FIG. 1 showing the folded-over strip stitched to the edges of a slit in the upper layer of the material of the tip; and

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a pair of bowling shoes embodying the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawing by reference numerals FIG. 3 shows a left foot bowling shoe l0 and a right foot bowling shoe 12 both of conventional well-known design except for the inclusion of the strip of material constituting the sighting line. A right-handed bowler will probably use the right foot sighting line and a left-handed bowler will probably use the left foot sighting line.

The tip of each shoe is formed by an outer layer 14 of leather which is applied to a vamp 16 in a conventional manner. Preferably this layer 14 has a dark shaded surface, black for example. Before this layer is applied, it is slit from the forward or toe end to a point spaced from the rearward or wing tip. The edges 18 and 20 of the slit are turned down (see FIG. 2) and a sighting line member 22 is placed between the edges 18 and 20 and secured by stitching 24, or other means. The member 22 is preferably made of a strip of leather having a white surface. This strip is folded along a longitudinal centerline with the white surface on the outside of the fold. The facing sides of the strip may be cemented to keep the strip in folded shape during handling and stitching.

It is desirable to place the strip 22 so that the outer side of the fold is substantially flush with the outer side of layer I4. Thus it will be protected from accidental scratching and surface wear. It will hold its contrasting color and be easily visible even after long usage. By so embedding the sighting strip in the leather of the tip the appearance of the bowling shoe is not marred. In fact the appearance by its uniqueness is improved without any lessening of the functionality of the sighting line.

To comprehend the functionality of the slighting line attention is directed to the construction of the presently approved bowling lanes. Such lanes are provided with markers called guides and targets. These are positioned at different distances from the foul line. The bowler uses them to spot his position on the approach and determine the line on which the bowling ball will be delivered. By using the sighting line on the bowling shoe to align with a selected guide or target, the bowler will determine the exact lateral position on the approach and such position will be uniformly the same for the same pin arrangement.

We claim:

1. A bowling shoe including a tip portion formed from a layer of material, said layer of material, prior to being formed into said tip portion, having a slit extending a predetermined distance from the forward end thereof with the edges of the slit being turned down; and

a sighting line member consisting of a strip of material, having a color contrasting with the color of the top surface of said layer of material and folded along the longitudinal center, fastened between said tumed-down edges.

2. A bowling shoe according to claim 1 wherein said sighting line member is positioned between said turndown edges so that the outer surface of said fold is substantially flush with the upper adjacent surfaces of said tip portion.

3. A bowling shoe according to claim 2 wherein inside surfaces of said strip are adhesively secured together and said strip is fastened to said downturned edges by stitching.

4. A bowling shoe according to claim 1 wherein said layer of material is leather with a dark shaded upper surface and said sighting member is a strip of light colored leather. 

1. A bowling shoe including a tip portion formed from a layer of material, said layer of material, prior to being formed into said tip portion, having a slit extending a predetermined distance from the forward end thereof with the edges of the slit being turned down; and a sighting line member consisting of a strip of material, having a color contrasting with the color of the top surface of said layer of material and folded along the longitudinal center, fastened between said turned-down edges.
 2. A bowling shoe according to claim 1 wherein said sighting line member is positioned between said turndown edges so that the outer surface of said fold is substantially flush with the upper adjacent surfaces of said tip portion.
 3. A bowling shoe according to claim 2 wherein inside surfaces of said strip are adhesively secured together and said strip is fastened to said downturned edges by stitching.
 4. A bowling shoe according to claim 1 wherein said layer of material is leather with a dark shaded upper surface and said sighting member is a strip of light colored leather. 